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A
Aoife_T
Participant
June 7, 2023
Question

Solution for internal links on an interactive PDF file built in InDesign

  • June 7, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 730 views

Hi folks!
I am using Adobe InDesign to generate a dynamic 25-page PDF file that includes external hyperlinks and internal PDF links.

I have successfully implemented the external hyperlinks, but I'm encountering issues with the internal PDF links when exporting it as an interactive PDF. Every time I make updates to the file, I find myself having to rectify the problem in InDesign, export the file, and then spend about one hour manually creating the internal hyperlinks using Adobe Acrobat.

While I have become pretty good at managing the links in Acrobat, the entire process has proven to be extremely frustrating and prone to human error.
Any suggestions on how I might improve the situation within InDesign?

Thanks, Aoife 

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1 reply

BobLevine
Community Expert
BobLevineCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 7, 2023

You've told us it doesn't work but you're not giving us enough detail to help. Updates to what file? The PDF? The InDesign file? What kind of updates? Are these bookmarks? Hyperlinks? I hope they're not buttons because those are definitely troublesome.

A
Aoife_TAuthor
Participant
June 7, 2023

I am currently working with a Catalog file that requires regular updates, including copy changes, image updates, and external hyperlink updates. My process now involves making these changes in InDesign, exporting the file as an interactive PDF, and then using Acrobat to link the internal page links.

I'm looking for a more efficient solution that would allow me to create the internal page links directly within InDesign, eliminating the need for using two separate systems. 
InDesign I've used page hyperlinks and buttons, but no luck with either. 

 

Bill Silbert
Community Expert
Bill SilbertCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 7, 2023

If you are only making editorial and/or image changes to your InDesign file then I would suggest exporting the newly edited file using the Adobe PDF (Print) setting. Then open the earlier PDF in Acrobat and using the Replace function within the Organize Pages section replace from the new PDF only the pages that have had changes made to them. Any Hyperlinks that were already in the earlier PDF will remain in place on those replaced pages as well as on all other pages. Only the editorial and/or image content will be affected on the replaced pages. When you are done replacing all of the changed pages you can dispose of the newer PDF that you made from InDesign and continue to use the now updated earlier PDF as your ongoing file.

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